Machine for stamping rear ends of boxes



Dec. 29, 1931. J, 5, PHELPS- 1,838,153

MACHINE FOR STAMPING REAR ENDS OF BOXES Filed May 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5/ Z2 6 /i 4 3 v 7 5E fl 50 1/ j 25 \1 2 $20 /5 24 46 a 2 I Z D u 27 f/VME/VTUE JOHN S. PHELPS 5 y A r roe/v5 y.

Dec. 29, 1931. PHELPS 1,838,153

MACHINE FOR STAMPING REAR ENDS OF BOXES Filed May 2 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J/m/ 5. IDA/5.1.105. 70 By Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNETED STATES JOHN S. PHELPS, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA MACHINE FOR STAMPING REAR ENDS OF BOXES Application filed May 26,

My invention relates to stamping devices for stamping or imprinting articles which are moved along a conveyor, and relates particularly to a stamping device which will an- I; tomatically stamp the rear end of an article as it moves along a conveyor.

Although my invention is adapted for use with various types of conveyors, adapted to carry various types and sizes of articles 1. such as boxes, packages or other objects, the

simple embodiment disclosed in this application is expressly desi ned for usewith a conveyor along which are carried fruit boxes such as those used for the packing of oranges and other citrus fruits. In the packing of products of this character the fruit is graded in accordance with its size and quality. For the purpose of identification it is customary to print on the boxes at the time they are L) packed symbols or words indicating the size, quality or grade of the fruit contained in the boxes, and also lot numbers.

My invention comprehends a simple, automatically operated stamping device having a 27/ stamp member which will apply a desired stamp to the rear end of an article, such as a fruit box, as it passes along a conveyor from the cover-applying machine of the packing equipment. In my prior applications, Se-

1J1 rial llumber 291,219, filed July 9, 1928, and entitled Box stamping machine, and Serial Number 310,973, filed Oct. 8, 1928, and entitled Stamping machine for conveyors. i show automatic machines for applying a s .mp to the front ends of boxes. My present invention may be used either in conjunction with or without devices for stamping the front ends of boxes as may be desired. However, the use of my invention with one of my 1' above noted devices for stamping the front end of a box makes it possible to apply identifying markings to both ends of the box so that either may then be considered the front end, and making it possible for an observer to identify the contents of a box regardless of the end presented to him.

it is an object of my invention to provide stamping device of the above character having a stamping member carrying a stamping die thereon faced in such direction that 1930. Serial No. 455,652.

as the stamping arm swings inwardly the die will engage the rear face of an article on the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a stamping device which will operate on the rear ends of articles during their movement along a conveyor, and which stamping device is provided with controlling means for producing actuation of the stamping device in properly timed relationship relative to the movement of the article along the conveyor to accomplish application of the stamping die to the rear end of the article.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the foregoing character which may be actuated solely by the article which moves along the conveyor. This element of the invention is of utility where the articles to be stamped are of such weight as to actuate the operating mechanism, but where the device is to be employed in the stamping of lightweight articles, such as packages of cereals, etc., the rear-face stamping mechanism and the automatic controlling mechanism are to employed with power means 7 for operating the stamp member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple combination of co-operating parts by which the principles of my invention may be practised.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a plan view showing the simple embodiment of my invention secured to a con veyor along which boxes are carried. In this view the stamping member of the stamping device is shown in retracted position in which it is held by a box passing adjacent thereto along the conveyor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. l but showing the box and the stamping device in their respective positions at the instant of the stamping operation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view for showing the automatic operation of the inking device of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the reiilient stop or bumper for the stamping mem- As the conveyor with which my stamping device is used forms no part of the present invention, it is illustrated in simple manner as consisting of a frame having rollers 11 which support a traveling belt 12 for carrying articles, such as a box 13 from one point to another. My stamping device 14 is adapted to be secured to or adjacent to the frame 10 of the conveyor and in the simple embodiment shown includes a stamping member 15 adapted to swing from the retracted position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the stamping position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The stamping member 15 consists of an arm 16 having a stamp proper or stamp die 17 inounted thereon in such position that it will engage the rear face 18 of the article or box 13. The arm 16 is pivotally supported by a supporting member 20 by means of a vertical shaft or pin 21 carried by the supporting member 20, this shaft or pin 21 being situated at one side of the conveyor and outside the path of travel of the article 13 along the conveyor.

The invention includes operating means for the stamp member adapted to be actuated by the article 13 as it moves rightwardly through the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 toward the stamping position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. This operating means generally designated by 22 includes a member 23 adapted to extend into the path of travel of the article 13, as shown in Fig. 2 and to be moved or displaced by such article 13 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the simple form of my invention illustrated, the member 23 consists of a bar or lever mounted on a vertical pin 24 which extends upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 from a bracket 25 secured to the frame 10 of the conveyor, and has an outer end 23a angularly directed for the purpose of controlling the movement of the stamping member in a manner to be hereinafter described. The operating means includes an adjustable connecting member 26 for connecting it to a bracket 27 carried on the rear end 28 of the arm 16 which forms the principal part of the stamping member. This connecting means is in the form of a link consisting of a rod 30, which extends upwardly and rightwardly from a bracket 31 on the member 23, a rod 32 which engages an I-bolt 33 secured in one of the holes of the bracket 27, and a turnbuckle 35 connecting the inner ends of the rods 30 and 32 together so that the length of the connecting member 26 may be thereby adjusted. A spring 36 is extended from the rearward end 37 of the member 23 to a post 38 carried by a horizontal bracket 40 which is secured by screws conveyor. This spring 36 tends to resiliently hold the members 16, 23 and 26 in the positions shown in Fig. 2.

My invention also includes a simple and automatically operating inking device 43 having an inking pad 44 for engagement with the stamping die 17 when the stamping member 15 is in retracted position as shown in Fig. 1. The inking device includes a vertical shaft 45, which extends upwardly from a bracket 46 carried at the leftward end of the bracket 40 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an inking plate 47, which supports the inking pad 44 on the rightward face thereof and has a hinge portion 48 at its leftward end for engaging the diametrally reduced upper end of the vertical shaft 45, and an actuating arm 50 having a bifurcated hinge portion 51 at its leftward end for engaging the upper end of the postor shaft 45. A spring 52, connecting between the upper end of the post 24 and the plate 47, normally holds the inking device 43 in the position in Fig. 2. As the arm 16 of the stamping member 15 swings rearwardly from its position of Fig. 2 toward its position of Fig. 1 the outer end 54 thereof engages the rearwardly curved rightward end 55 of the actuating member 50 and forces the member 50 to swing rearwardly from its position of Fig. 2, through its position of Fig. 4 and into inking position as shown in Fig. 1. A resilient connector 56 extended between the members or bolts 41 to the frame 10 of the 47 and 50, as shown in Fig. 4, causes the 1 inking plate 47 to be held in a definite position relative to the actuating arm 50 so that when-the actuating arm 50 is swung from its position of Fig. 2 to its position of Fig. 1, the inking plate 47 will swing inwardly or rightwardly from its position of Fig. 1, over the face of the stamping die 17 and into inking engagement with the stamping die 17 when the stamping die 17 is carried into retracted position by The resilient connector 56, Fig. 4, consists of a bolt 57 secured by nuts 58 to the stamp plate 47 and extended through the actuatin arm 50, there being a stop nut 60 adapte to be engaged by the arm 50 and a spring 61 for resiliently forcing the member 50 into engagement with the nut 60. The nut 60 may be adjusted to give such relationship of the members 47 and 50 that the inking pad 44 will be properly applied to the stamping die 17 when the arm 16 is in its normal retracted position, as indicated in Fig. 1. Should the stamping arm 16, for any reason, be swung rearwardly to a position beyond its normal retracted position of Fig; 1, the spring 61 will permit the resilient connector 56 to function and allow the actuating arm 50 to swing rearwardly relative to the inking plate 47.

The operation of my device is as follows:

the stamping arm 16. 1

stamping arm 16 from At the completion of a stamping operation and during the approach of another article to be stamped, the parts of the stamping device occupy a position substantially as shown in Fig. 2, both the stamping member 15 and the operating member 22 projecting into the path of travel of a member 13 which is approaching the stamping device from the left, or in other words, is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow of Fig. 1. In moving toward the position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the article or box 13 engages the member or lever 23 and rotates same rightwardly from the position of Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 1, the connecting means 26 accomplishing retraction of the its position in Fig. 2 to its position in Fig. 1 wherein the die 17 is inked by the inking device 43. The parts of the stamping device are held in their positions of Fig. 1 until the angularly directed end 230/, reaches the rearward corner 73 of the box 13 and then as the corner 73 rides along the end 23a, the arm 28 will move outwardly a limited distance so as to cause the stamping arm 16 to swing from its position of Fig. 1 toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 and allowthe inking means 43 to move into a position of partial engagement wherein it will offer no resistance to forward movement of the arm 16 but will impart a forwardly acting force to the end of such arm 16. Vv hen the rear face 18 of the box 13 reaches the plane AA, at which time an adjustable extension or plate 7 2 constituting the control means of the invention slides off the rearward corner 73 of the box 13, the spring 36 will move the operative parts of the stamping device into their positions of Fig. 2, thus swinging the stamping member 15 so as to produce engagement of the stamping die 17 with the rear face or end of the box 13. As the stamping arm 16 carries the die 17 into engagement with the rear face 18 of the box 13 it also engages a resilient stop or bumper 74 which consists of a bumping member 75 mounted on the leftward end of a shaft 76 as shown in Fig. 5, this shaft extending through an arm or bliLClGt 77 and having a compression spring 78 which normally forces the member 75 in leftward direction. This stop or bumper being of resilient character forces the arm 16 leftwaroly immediately upon engagement of the die 17 with the box 13, thereby producing an instantaneous engagement of the die 17 with the rear end 18 of the box.

The co-operating relationship existing between the stamp member 15 and the operating means 22 is adjusted by use of the turnbuckle 35, and the forward actuation or forward swinging motion of the stamp arm 16 may be timed relative to the position and movement of the box 13 by properly setting 3 the plate 72 of the control means, which may Although I have herein shown a practical and operative embodiment of my invention, it IS recognized that certain parts, elements, or mechanisms thereof are representative of other parts, elements or mechanisms which may be employed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially equivalent results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of this disclosure but should be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article to be stamped may move: a stamp member, there being a stamp die on sai: stamp member adapted to engage the rear face of said article; operating means whereby said stamp member is moved to and from stamping engagement with the rear face of said article, said operating means receiving power for its operation from the movement of said article; and control means for controlling the operation of said operating means in timed relationship to the movement and position of said article on said conveyor.

2. A stamping device as defined in claim 1 in which said operating means includes a spring for normally forcing said stamp member toward a position of engagement with said article.

3. A stamping device as defined in claim 1, in which said control means comprises a follower adapted to ride along a side of said article as said article passes said follower and then to drop off the rear end of said article when said article passes a predetermined point in its movement along said conveyor.

4. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamp member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move'to and from engagement with an article on said conveyor; resilient means for resiliently forcing said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means normally disposed in the path of travel of an article on said conveyor and adapted to be moved into retracted position by said article, said operating means being connected to said stamp member so as to move said stamp member between stamping and retracted positions in accordance with the movement of said operating means; and an adjustable part onsaid operating means for determining the time of disengagement of said operating means from said article relative to the position of said article with respect to said stamp member.

5. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a. stamp member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with the rear face of an article on said conveyor; resilient means for resiliently forcing said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means normally disposed in the path of travel of an article on said conveyor and adapted to be moved into retracted position by said article, said operating means being connected to said stamp member so as to retract same; and control means actuating when said article is in a predetermined position relative to said stamp member for determining the time at which said operating means may move from retracted position toward its normal position in the path of travel of said article.

6. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamp member: means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with the rear face of an article on said conveyor; resilient means for resiliently forcing said stamp member to ward engagement with said article; operat ing means normally disposed in the path of travel of an article on said conveyor and adapted to be moved into retracted position by said article, said operating means being connected to said stamp member so as to move sald stamp member between stamping and retracted positions in accordance with the movement of said operating means; and an adjustable part on said operating means for determining the time of disengagement of said operating means from said article relative to the position of said article with respect to said stamp member.

7. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamping member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with the rear face of an article on said conveyor; resilient means for resiliently forcing-said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means for moving said stamp member into retracted position, said operating means being operated by an approaching article on said conveyor; means operative to release said stamp member from retracted position when an article is in such co-operative position that said stamp member will engage the rear face of such article; and an inking device operative to ink said stamp member when said stamp member is withdrawn from engagement position.

8. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamp member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with the rear. face of an article on said conveyor; resilient means for resiliently forcing said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means normally disposed in the path of travel of an article on said conveyor and adapted to be moved into retracted position by said article, said operating means being connected to said stamp member so as to move said stamp member between stamping and retracted positions in accordance with the movement of said operating means; an adjustable part on said operating means for determining the time of disengagement of said operating means from said article relative to the position of said article with respect to said stamp member; and inking means for automatically inking said stamp member when said stamp member is in re-v tracted position.

9. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamp member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with an article on said conveyor; yieldable means for forcing said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means for moving said stamp member into retracted position against the action of said yieldable means, said operating means being operated by an approaching article on said conveyor; and means operative to release said stamp memher from retracted position when an article 15 in co-operative position.

10. A stamping device for use with a conveyor along which an article may move, including: a stamp member; means supporting said stamp member so that it may move to and from engagement with an article on said conveyor; yieldable means for forcing said stamp member toward engagement with said article; operating means normally disposed in the path of travel of an article on said conveyor and adapted to be moved into retracted position by said article, said operating means being connected to said stamp member so as to retract same against the action of said yieldable means; and control means for determining the time at which said operating means may move from retracted position toward its normal position in the path of travel of said article.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Whittier, California, this 21st day of May, 1930.

JOHN S. PHELPS.

ios 

